peters



MARK- J. COLBOURN, OF KABTHAUS, PENNSYLVANIA. I Letters Patent No. 83,604, dated November 3, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN' WATER-WHEELS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

We all whom it may concern:

' Bc it known that I, MAnK J. OOLBOURN, of Karthaus, in the county of Clearfield, and State ot' Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved Water- VVheel; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part oi' this specification, in which- Figure l, sheet l, is a plan view of the wheel-case, enclosing thc wheel and its frame.

Figure 2 is a side elevation ofthe same, as seen by making a longitudinal section through the frame', in the vertical plane indicated by red line a: in iig, l.

Figure 3 is a top view of the wheel, as seen by rcmoving the upper section of its case.

Figure 4: is a longitudinal section through the wheel, its case, and frame, taken in thevertical plane indicated by red line in iig. l.

Figure 5, sheet 2, is a transverse section, taken ina vertical. plane tln'ough the centre of the wheel, its case, and frame:

Figure (i, sheet 2, is a front elevation ot' the improved wheel, its case, and frame.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one oi the bucketshields. l

Figures 84 and il are views showing the construction.

`oi' the rcnuwable step and its bearing-box.

Similar letters oi'frei'erencc indicate corresponding parts in the several ligures.

This invention relates to certain imvel improvements on water-wheels, ii'oni which motion and power can he obtained for driving various kinds oflmachiuery.

The invention provides for `so constructing such wheels that they can be practically used either in vertical or in rizontal positions, and either wholly or partially submerged in water, as the circumstances ofthe case may require.

.llhe natureof my invention consists, n'iainly, in providing the radial buckets or lloats of water-wheels which are enclosed within cases, with hoods or shields, so shaped that, while they will allow the water to enter the.V cases oi' the wheels 1i' eely, they will prevent the water, after acting upcv be buckets, troni rebounding or reacting against the' surtaccs ot' the succeeding buckets, as will be hereinafter described.

.lhe invention further consists in a sectional convolute caso l'or my water-wheel, which is constructed oi' two sections, and provided with tongue-ainl-groove hstenings, in combination with a device which will lock the sections securely together, whereby a watertight and rigid ease is produced, which will allow free access to the water-wheel contained in it at any time; and without removing the wheel from its bearings, as will be hereinafterv explained.

It also consists in providing the case of my. waterwhel with a frame, which will serve as the support for the shait of this wheel, such frame being so constructed that one section of the case of the wheel .can

be secured to it by tongues and grooves, together with bolt-fastenings, so as to effect a rigid attachment, which will admit of the ready removal oi' the said sectionframe at pleasure, as will bc hereinafter explained.

It'further 'consists in combining aremovable stepbearhlg, for supporting the shaft of the water-wheel, when arranged in a vertical position, with bearings which are adapted for sustaining said shaft when it is arranged in a horizontal position, as will be hereinafter described.

1t also consists in constructing the sln' ds, for the several floats or buckets ci' my wheel, u nh segments, having tongues and grooves formed in their ends, in combination with a locking-key, and with lia-ages, which are formed upon the backs of the floats, icr the purpose of securing said shieldsin place i l the axis of the shaft oi' the wheel, so that thesA lds can be se1 arately formed, and made very light and portable,

'as will be hereinafter explained.

llo enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, Iwill describe its construction and operation.

In tl le accompanying drawings, A represents a framework, which is adapted for sustaining my nnproved water-wheel and its metallic frame, aud the wheel-case of the wheel. This frame A may be constructed in any suitable manner, for supporting thc water-wheel either in a horizontal position or in a vertical position, as circumstances may require.

The drawings represent the water-wheelarranged in a vertical position, and, while .l `shail reter to the several parts as being arranged in accordance therewith, do not wish to be understood coniinmg myself to a vertical wheel, as my improvements enable me to arrange the wheel in any position which .l may desire, and have it operate successfully. I

' On top of the frame A, and securel;T boltedtherelon, is a metallic rectangular open frame, whiclris constructed with anches, that tit within t Le supportingrails o1'l fra-nie A, and prevent any liability ci' displacement oi'tbc wheel and case when properly adjusted in place for operation. The frame Af is a( "ted tor` re'- ceiving, between the innerparallel edg of its transverse bars, the bottom section', (l, oi the case enclosing the water-wheel, and alsbforallowing this sectlon O to be removed from 'its frame when desired.

The section C is constructful with notches or recesses in its front and rear ends, 'ibrming jaws, b h, as shown in iig. 2, which receive the said inner parallel edges oi the frame A, and thus forni a strong *stachment tor the section to its traine. lilith this al achment, and two bolts applied tothe jaw l1, as shown in iig. l, the section will be held rigidly in place, and, b y removing said bolts, the section can be detached from its trame, by simply sliding its ends laterally between thoseportions ofthe trame which are cut out7 shown at a a.

Upon the longitudinal bars o'f frame A, grooved standards, C2 O, are formed, for receiving bearingboxes, c c', which boxes may be secured in their places in anv suitable manner, so as to afford bearings for the shaftll of the .vater-wheel, and allow of the removal of this shaft. and its wheel from frame A whenever desired.

The standard C, which receives the bearing-boxes c', is wustl-noted with a. rcccss, and with jaws. ff, at its outer end, for receiving a. tapering rectangular box, (l, anda hooked tongue-piste d', formed on this box, as shown in nos. Si, S, and il. This box l is adapted for receiving a. wooden step-block, e, for sustaining the lower end of the shaft H when this shaft is arranged in a. vertical plane. When the shaft B is arranged in a horizontal plane, as shown in the drawings, the stepbloek c is not used. The box (l iits snugly in its recess in the box c', and is held in -place therein by the hook d', as shown clearly in tig.

The case, which partly encloscs the buckets of the wheel, and which sorvcs as a guide for directing,r the water from the forebay upon the several buckets ofthe wheel. of a eouvolnte form, Jthat is to say, the watcipar is gradually contracted as it approaches the diselnn opening, which is made through the secF tion 0*, directly beneath thel axis of the wheel, as shown in il f5 and 4.

The upp i portion, 0, of the said case,is removable, and can be 'taken from sec-tion (l at any time, without disturbing the other part-s. '.lhe upper section, C, is constructed with overlapping flanges along those edges which rest upon the sec-tion C', which will make, pra-ctically, a watertight joint- This upper sect-ion (l is also constructed with jaws, g g, near its front and rea-r ends, which are adapted for receiving lugs or tenons, g gf, toi-med on the sides ofthe lower oase, (ll, as shown in iig. 2. "lnese jaws and tenons will secure the upper `section, (o), down irmly in place upon the lower section, G, and serv in conjunction with the tongue li, and split-key fastening 1i', to preventsaid section (l from becomii A illy detached from its lower sect-ion, and at the saine time allow the upper section to be removed, when desu-cd. by simply withdrawingthe kry i, and slipping this section backward.

Tv'hen section C and the hearing-boxes of the shaft B are detached, the wheel can be removed bodily out of its place.

. The wat.V

vheel consists of any required number of floats, '.uran' at equal distances apa-rt around the axis of tlcx t B, as shown intim/1; and these floats are also armored in planes radiatingr from the axis of sind shaft. "ilie iioat-s are iiat or concave plates, on, with round-e" outer edges, which are permanently seeuredeentr hy to the edges of radial iianges or arms, H. 'Each one of theseltloats m is provided with a convex hood or shield, D, upon its back, which are designed to prevent 'the water striking the buckets at the mouth of the case from reacting against the sueeeeding buckets, as will be hereinafter flut-herexplained.

These shields are made hollow, so as to be very ligl-it,

and each shield is constructed with segments, S, upon' its edge nearest the axis of thel shaft B, the ends of which segments are provided wi th tongues, S', as shown in iig. 7.

'.Lhe shields are also constructed with shoulders, Z, upon their inner surfaces, which are set back a little from their front openings, to receive against them the outer edges of the tloat-ph'itos m, as shown iil iig. 4..

The shields, thus constrluftcd, arc iittcd together around the axis of the wheel, and secured rigidly in their piaci-s by means of their interlocking segmental portions and a transverse key, li", which passes through notches p, made through segments S. of two of the shields i,l, and also through a sloi which is made through the web of thc wheel. \\"hcn the shields D are all arranged around the a-xis of the wheel, the. key k' will lock them all in place. The flanehcs H are formed around a. hub,j, which is slipped upon thc shaft B, and secured in place by means of keys, as shown, or in any other suitable manner.

l` have thus described a mode of constructing the water-wheel which will admit of the construction of the shields D separate from the tloatsof the wheel, and also allow-these shields to be secured rigidly in place to their respective floats. In practice, the wheel may be constructed in this manner; butI believe that the entire wheel may be cast in one piece, with hollow shields, to secure lightness.

It will be seen, by reference to figs. 3, 4, 6, and 7,V

that the shields, which are placed at the backs of the several floats or percussion-plates m., are so shaped tl iat they will allow wat-er entering at themonth of the sectional wheelease, to tlow unobstructed over and around them, and strike against the floats m, as these latter successively pass. 'aid month; and it will also be seen that these shields or hoods D are so shaped that they will not oti'er any considerable resista-nce to the water, which rebounds immediately after its iirst impact against the lioats.

The iioats yn1y may be made slightly concave, and, if desirable, the edges of the shields l) mayproii-ctfrom their faces, so as to prevent loss of power b y a too free lateral tlow of the water atteistriking the i'loats.

It will be seen that my improved wheel may be readily removed ii-oni its fame A', together with its sectional ease, and adj usted so as to turn either toward the right or the left, as may be required.

lt will also be seen tha-t the wheel can be arranged to work either in a horizontal plane or in a vertical plane, and that it will operate, whether partly or wholly submerged in water.

'lhe shields prevent the water from strikingl the back surfaces of the float-plates 1m. after striking the front faecs of these tloat-s, and afford roundedl detlecting surface, which will relieve the .floats from sudden impact oi' li;u';l\-\va-ter.

The bearing-boxes ofthe shaft of the wheel are aecessible at all times for oiling and adjusting, and, if desirable, these boxes maybe provided with Babbit metal, so as to allow the shaft to turn freely, withoutrapid wear ot' its journals.

Having described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l.. The hoods or shields` D, constructed of the form substantially as described, upon the backs of radial tloat-s nl, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

2. lhe shields D, constructed with interlocking segments S and shoulders in combination with thc floatplates m, tlanches ll, and a locking-key, 1.1, substantially.

as described.

3. The convolute case, enclosing the water-wheel of two sections, C C, constructed and connected together by the devices as shown, so as to be (ht-achable, substantially as described.

4. lhe combiimtion of the sectional frames A A', the sectional water-wheel case, und thc tongue-andgroove and bolt-fastenings, all constructed and arranged substantially in thc manner and for the purposc described.

5. lhe ren'iovable box d, provided with hooked fastening (l, adapted for use with a standard, (1",substantiall y as and for the purpose described.

MAR-l' J. UO LBUURN.

Witnesses:

lionnsz llnn'rmns, .1. G. MCGLosnnv. 

